Swine Flu Vaccine Research Kicks Off By Russia

Russian investigators in St. Petersburg (Russia) published a report on Thursday, September 10th stating that they have initiated clinical trials of a vaccine against swine influenza in the northwestern city of St. Petersburg.
 
Marina Stukova, lead investigator of the molecular virology and genetic engineering at the Research Institute of Influenza in St. Petersburg, said: "Today we are initiating research to assess the safety and efficacy of a live vaccine.
 
Swine influenza is spreading at an alarming rate worldwide. From 26 August, Russia itself saw 211 cases of swine influenza infected persons. According to the WHO last week, more than 3,200 people who have succumbed to the swine flu worldwide.
 
On 12 May the World Health Organization (WHO) presented the H1N1 strain of vaccine research for the Institute.

Stukova claimed that the investigation, including tests of the inactivated vaccine will be launched after 18 September and was completed in November. The tests will be closed to the press.
 
The vaccination process to be followed in later stages. The first stage consists of a team of 30 volunteers. This stage will be filled within 31 days. The team spent about a week in hospital followed by several visits to the research institute. Stukova said the second group to receive the live vaccine will be tested for 42 days.
 
Another place where the new vaccine will be tested Sergiyev Posad is located 75 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Here, a total of 60 volunteers will participate in the testing process. Each volunteer was paid a ransom of 10,000 rubles ($ 320).

Several volunteers from various walks of life have been presented for the cause. Age and sex are not preclude voluntary participation. Alla, 25, an employee of the charity fund, which is voluntary in the research, says he is motivated by the feeling of helping those in need.
 
Another volunteer, Nastya, 19 years old physics student, said that the reward has been the main driving force for their participation. He also wants to devote his thesis to the question.
 
Eduard, 48, a volunteer at the same institute in the mid-1990s, has come back from this cause with the same dedication as before. He says: "If I can help society and make some money at the same time, why not?" , Told RIA Novosti.